"The agent of pests includes attack by insects, vermin,
or mould. The threat here is primarily to organic materials, which
can be damaged either because they are a food source to the pest
or because they represent a barrier that the pest wants to cross.
Damage can be extensive if pests become established (i.e., begin
to live, eat, excrete, and die) in the museum collection. Problems
with mould and microbes are related to problems with relative
humidity."

Integrated pest management (IPM) is the environmentally sensitive
NPS program for dealing with unwanted and destructive plant and
animal pests, some of which threaten park cultural resources.
Management Policies (4:13-14) makes clear that dealing with such
pests is a balancing act requiring close cooperation between cultural
resource and IPM specialists. The goal is always to avoid unacceptable
harm to both cultural resources and their environment. Guidance
in developing and implementing an IPM program is contained in
the Natural Resources Management Guideline (NPS-77) and NPS Museum
Handbook, Part I, Museum Collections (Chapter 5).

"Insect pests and vermin together are considered an agent
of deterioration. Other forms of biodeterioration involving lower
life forms such as mold or fungi are considered as a part of a
flood or of an incorrect
relative humidity problem, since they are readily prevented
by the avoidance of dampness and the maintenance of appropriate
relative humidity levels, In general, careful monitoring, well-sealed
storage cases, and good housekeeping are the most effective means
of reducing the risks from pests and vermin. Fumigation undertaken
outside of a properly designed chamber or bubble is often extremely
inefficient (if effective at all) and poses a had to staff. Both
the institution and supervisory staff may be liable in the event
that a hazard results in personal injury.

Waller, Robert and Hawks, Catharine. Agents of Deterioration
in Museum Collections, 1993.

"In its simplest form, Integrated Pest Management or IPM
involves the combination of two or more pest management methods.
PM was developed as an alternative to the total reliance on pesticides.
IPM is a decision-making process.

Successful and safe pest management in the National Park Service
is accomplished with a nine-step process as follows:

Building of consensus among site occupants, pest managers,
and decision makers;

Identification of pests;

Review of National Park Service policies that affect pest
and pesticide management;

Establishment of priorities by pest or by site;

Determination of action thresholds or population levels that
trigger management;

Monitoring of pest populations and the environment

Application of non-chemical management and obtaining approval
and applying pesticides;

Integrated pest management (IPM) is the environmentally sensitive
NPS program for dealing with unwanted and destructive plant
and animal pests, some of which threaten park cultural resources.
Management Policies (4:13-14) makes clear that dealing with
such pests is a balancing act requiring close cooperation between
cultural resource and IPM specialists. The goal is always to
avoid unacceptable harm to both cultural resources and their
environment. Guidance in developing and implementing an IPM
program is contained in the Natural Resources Management Guideline
(NPS-77) and NPS Museum Handbook, Part I, Museum Collections
(Chapter 5).

"An IPM program aims to reduce the occurrence of pests
and the damage they cause within collections. An IPM program
relies on a knowledge of pests and their habits, to make the
environment undesirable or hostile for them. The success of
an IPM program comes from a thorough understanding of pests'
ecologies, and the ability to modify the conditions which will
enhance pest numbers. That is, the ability to control temperature,
food and shelter."

It is important to be able to recognise the signs of insect
and moulds activityand these can sometimes be very subtle.
It is also important to know which biological pests pose a threat,
so that you can take steps to control them, but without placing
your collections or yourselves at risk.

The fungi on these pages are commonly identified in outdoor
air and in North American buildings. Health effects listed for
these fungi often represent worst-case exposure information.
These health effects may be used as a guide when consulting
with a physician about a medical condition.

Implementing and maintaining a pest management program are
conveniently organized in CCI's "Framework for Preservation
of Museum Collections" by five stages of control: avoid,
block, detect, respond, and recover/treat.

Integrated Pest Management is a preventative, long-term, low
toxicity means of controlling pests. Though IPM was developed
first for the agricultural industry, many museums, archives
and libraries are finding IPM principles relevant to the protection
of their holdings. Obviously the specific requirements
of an IPM plan must be tailored to the specific cultural institution.
Before deciding to implement an IPM program, you will need to
consider some of the primary advantages and disadvantages of
an IPM program over traditional pest management. Traditional
pest management is defined here as repeated chemical application,
without emphasis on understanding the species or number of pests
present.